This week has been super hot. Farming in this weather is not only hard on us it's hard on our vegetables and flowers. When the weather is like this things tend to bolt (a growers way of saying go to seed). The plant, stressed out and thinking it may die, starts to flower and then seed to create its offspring. Your cilantro is a great example of this. Some vegetables are negatively affected and get woody (tough) or bitter but cilantro gets even more flavorful... We're excited to see what you think.

Vibrant Valley Farm also grows a ton of flowers and those, too, are definitely feeling this heat. They are blooming like mad... Up to 3 weeks early! So we're cutting like mad.

Warrior Rock Lighthouse on Sauvie Island

We take care of ourselves by taking breaks (we got on a boat and took a tour around the island yesterday) and drinking tons of water. Most of the plants survive this heat with occasional overhead watering, extra irrigation and shade when we can give it. We just put shade cloth over our 2 hoop houses. We also make sure to harvest vegetables and flowers super early, wash them in cold water if necessary and store them in our 38 degrees cooler. Hot weather plants like zinnias, peppers and tomatoes love this weather. We can't wait for a break. Stay cool!